The human rights organization Human Rights Watch now takes a critical view of the investigators in Karlsruhe. Lotte Leicht, the director of the organization’s EU branch, speaks of Germany merely paying «lip service» to international law. A perfect law is worthless if it’s not applied, she insists, arguing that Spain, Italy and the Netherlands are much more committed than Germany in this respect.

It’s not out of the question that charges will be pressed against Rumsfeld in those countries soon. «These boys can no longer sleep peacefully,» says Ratner. After all, there is no statute of limitations for war crimes and crimes against humanity.